Friday, 28 February 2025
After this week’s Huddersfield Health and Innovation (HHIP) event, I found myself thinking – if I wanted to, I could network every day. And honestly? This week, it feels like I already do.
There are endless opportunities to connect, but the real question is, ‘How do you make networking work for you?’
Mapping it out
Who comes home with a bag full of business cards struggling to put names to faces?
Before signing up for every free coffee and lunch, take a step back. Ask yourself:
‘Why am I going?’ To learn, find clients, collaborate, or catch up?
‘Who do I want to meet?’ Are there key people, industries or like-minded professionals?
‘What do I want to gain from it?’ Is it new opportunities, insights or partnerships?
Networking is about building real connections
Some of the best moments in my career didn’t come from formal introductions. They happened just by being in the right room with the right people.
When I wrote a letter to an editor, desperate for a break in journalism, he called me in and gave me a chance. That conversation and the lovely small editorial team became more like family, mentoring me through my early career.
They supported me through incredible opportunities, from earning my National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualification to being nominated for Yorkshire Reporter of the Year.
How one conversation can change everything
This week, I visited my old university, Leeds Trinity & All Saints, for a networking event.
Once part of Leeds University and now independent with a new city campus alongside the one I fondly recall in Horsforth.
Walking in brought back memories of a wonderful career placement at McCann Manchester and my first day as a student.
My tutor glanced at my name and smiled. ‘Sophie Seddon – what lovely alliteration. I can see that name in print one day.’
She was right. I became a journalist, saw my byline in print, and had incredible opportunities, including meeting politicians – Gordon Brown, Theresa May, David Blunkett and the late Sir Bernard Ingham.
At a crossroads between photography, broadcast journalism, and something new, a job at West Yorkshire Police caught my eye. It was a complete shift – from reporting on crime to managing the comms for the Force.
In the fast-paced world of blue light communications, I thrived on adrenaline. Reacting to one incident after another, I also found opportunities to engage news editors in discussions about proactive campaigns and publicity. I called upon the people I had worked with, nurturing those relationships to promote positive news stories for the Force.
Later, as a solopreneur, support came from walking into my first Honley Business Association meeting, followed by business support programmes and mentors who took me under their wing.
From first meetings to long-term relationships
Some of the strongest relationships in my business started with a single conversation.
Sometimes, the right words at the right moment can make all the difference. For instance, yesterday, Sarah Hinchliffe from Red Box Business Services offered me some lovely feedback just when I needed to hear it most.
And when Tina, of Fotini Coaching, sat at my kitchen table during my first online workshop (just in case I couldn’t work the tech), neither of us knew that down the line, I’d bring her into a bigger client event.
That’s the power of networking. It’s not just about today, but about the opportunities that grow over time.
Final Thought
Running a business is exhilarating, but it’s also tough. Some months are great, others are lean. You can’t always guarantee big money, but what you can do is build strong relationships, bring others into bigger projects, and create opportunities for those around you.
Instead of attending every event, be strategic. Think about where your time is best spent.
The real value of networking isn’t about how many events you attend. It’s in the relationships you nurture long after they’re over.